The city below shimmered with the deceptive calm of early morning. From the high vantage point of the penthouse, it looked tranquil soft amber streetlights fading with the first hints of dawn, the occasional taxi threading its way through sleepy avenues, a distant hum of life that seemed almost ordinary. But Alexander knew better. He could feel the tension in the air, heavy and unrelenting, the invisible pull of threats that lingered in corners unseen. Every victory so far had come at a cost; ...